Bridging the provinces of Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, and Madang is a mountain region known as the Bismarck Range which extends upwards into Mt Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea’s tallest mountain (4,509 m). Set on this mountain range is an intact montane forest comprised of Papua New Guinea oak and beech forest. The forest is home to the endangered Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, giant rats, and many species of bird of paradise. Currently, WCS is working with partners to reduce deforestation and conserve the biodiversity within this intact forest while strengthening and diversifying local livelihoods.
WCS is currently targeting communities spread across communities in three highland provinces (Chimbu, Jiwaka, and Eastern Highlands Provinces). The protection of the Bismarck Forest Corridor will be critical in insuring vulnerable montane wildlife have a refuge from a warming climate. By virtue of good forest cover, and a large elevational change caused by the country’s tallest mountain, the wildlife of the region will have the opportunity to migrate upwards to cooler habitat.